befæstan
Old English edit
Etymology edit
From Proto-West Germanic *bifastijan, equivalent to be- (“around”) + fæstan (“to secure, fasten”).
Pronunciation edit
Verb edit
befæstan
- (transitive) to fasten; fix; ground; establish; make safe; put in safe keeping
- (transitive) to apply; utilize; commend; entrust to
- (transitive) to commit
- late 9th century, King Alfred's translation of Saint Augustine's Soliloquies
- ...Gyf ðū ēnigne gōdne heorde hæbbe þe wel cunne healdan þæt þæt þū gestrēone and him befæste, scēawa hyne me; […]
- If thou have any good steward that can well hold that which thou gettest and committest unto him, show him to me; […]
- late 9th century, King Alfred's translation of Saint Augustine's Soliloquies
Conjugation edit
Conjugation of befæstan (weak class 1)
| infinitive | befæstan | befæstenne |
|---|---|---|
| indicative mood | present tense | past tense |
| first person singular | befæste | befæste |
| second person singular | befæstest, befæst | befæstest |
| third person singular | befæsteþ, befæst | befæste |
| plural | befæstaþ | befæston |
| subjunctive | present tense | past tense |
| singular | befæste | befæste |
| plural | befæsten | befæsten |
| imperative | ||
| singular | befæst | |
| plural | befæstaþ | |
| participle | present | past |
| befæstende | befæsted | |